Chief Keef

Okay, I know it is a Saturday, but today is also June 1st a.k.a. the beginning of the summer months. Did you really expect me to drop a summer mixtape on any other day? Welcome to Summer is the perfect driving-with-the-windows-down mixtape. Like, that is the sole reason I made it. Whether you’re rolling into town blasting RL Grime‘s remix of Chief Keef (making eye contact with the old lady in the car next to you at a stoplight) or just shouting the lyrics of Planetarian‘s “Swim” at the top of your lungs as you cruise down the interstate, this mix works. Plus, how legendary is the sequence of Chance The Rapper into Reggie Watts into Chief Keef into Disclosure?

You daydream about the sea, and I daydream you’ll be mine, Underneath the shade of leaves, stars over the trees, Spending a whole summer with you that sounds alright, I’ll, Meet you in the evening so we can swim tonight

Every since he tweeted “June Eighteen” there has been an excessive thirst for news on Kanye West‘s highly-anticipated sixth studio LP. Well, Rolling Stone has managed to snatch up some clues about the album, and I am going to try to connect some of the dots. Here is what we know:

He has been in Paris, France since the beginning of the year, staying in the illustrious Hotel Meurice (also known as “The Hotel of Kings,” so you know it’s real).

Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg said that Kanye played the album for Def Jam and apparently it’s “dark but really good.”

Kanye went to Brazil instead of The Grammys back in February. He was photographed in the studio with… Will Smith.

He is playing SNL’s season closer on May 18th. This is three days before Daft Punk‘s album drops, and he has at least two songs with Daft Punk. Thomas Bangalter, half of the influential French duo, said that ‘Ye was “kind of screaming primally” during one of their recent sessions.

Kanye tweeted “June Eighteen,” which I think is a single release date and not the album release date. Even though I would think he would release a single right after playing SNL in May, I do not think he would undercut label mate Pusha T‘s album My Name Is My Name (which is due out July 16th), with his own album. Oh also, June 18th could totally be Kim Kardashian’s due date.

West has brought in Skrillex, Chief Keef, and members of Odd Future. The Odd Future feature is especially not surprising as he is a huge Tyler, The Creator fan. For a while Tyler’s legendary “IFHY” music video was the only item featured on Yeezy’s website.

UPDATE #1: Kanye took the Met Gala stage by storm last night performing some new material. One song, presumably called “I Am A God,” began with him yelling that. Another featured him telling Kim K that she is so awesome (watch here). Lastly, Hudson Mohawke, half of TNGHT and recent G.O.O.D. Music signee, played a new Yeezy song at one of his sets.

Also, it has been reported that Kanye bought the Hudson beat below. Hopefully, the final product sees the light of day because the instrumental is FIRE.

UPDATE #2: Hud Mo played another new ‘Ye song, this one probably called “New Slaves,” at a recent set.

Kanye said: “You see there’s leaders and there’s followers, but I’d rather be a dick than a swallower.”

Update #3: Kanye stopped by Roseland Ballroom in NYC and performed ANOTHER new track as well as the song we think is called “Awesome.” SNL this weekend is going to be insane.

Update #4: ‘Ye took to 66 buildings around the globe to project his new song “New Slaves.”

NEW SONG AND VISUAL FROM MY NEW ALBUM BEING PROJECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE ON 66 BUILDINGS, LOCATIONS @ KANYEWEST.COM

Update #5: Ugh. I’ll just embed a #tweet about this “Kanye” character. We can probably expect the “New Slaves” CDQ, featuring Frank Ocean tonight after SNL. Kanye’s album (title still not confirmed) Yeezus will be everywhere on June 18th.

New Kanye album may be called Yeezus, and will be out June 18th (Amazon). “New Slaves” CDQ features Frank Ocean. twitter.com/THEArjunGrover…

Last summer marked one of the hottest summers in Chicago for more than just the weather. It was the extreme violence. At the center of it all was a figure that seemed to perfectly embody the IDGAF attitude of the heated crime wave, releasing track after Chicago drill scene track: Chief Keef.

But, what happens when you lose the below-the-belt-hitting bass, rattling hats, gritty bars and add a bombshell blonde with an acoustic guitar? Well, I would guess to say that you probably get Nikyee Heaton. Just watch and you’ll see what I mean.

It’s been a while, Sunset. Nice to see you again. I’m back. And what better way to come back than with some extra ratchet Chief Keef. Ahhh, the simple ignorance of Keef’s lyrics, so refreshing.

Aylen teams up with Dotcom to add to some fat bass to this hood anthem. If you’re unfamiliar with The Chief, read up here (Via The Fader). As a Chicagoan myself, the hip hop scene is both really promising yet devastatingly representative of the out of hand gang violence that has plagued the Windy City for decades. Kanye often references the issue in his music–“It’s a war going on outside we ain’t safe from, I feel the pain in my city wherever I go, 314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago”–so it’s interesting that he and the G.O.O.D. Music crew would put an official remix of the song on Cruel Summer, given Keef’s clear ties to gang violence in the city Kanye calls home.

Regardless, Aylen and Dotcom give this song a filthy little fixup, and the result is facemelting.

Check out more of Aylen’s work here, and get rowdy to “I Don’t Like” this weekend.